NYT Dictionary
ENLIGHTEN
/ɪnˈlaɪtən/Verben-LIGHT-enen-light-en · 3 syllablesGrade 7
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2023
Meaning
To supply with light.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Formerly also inlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, inlightnen, a hybrid formed from inlighten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), from Old English inlīhtan, onlīhtan, enlīhtan (“to enlighten, illuminate, give light to, give sight to”) and lightnen (“to enlighten, illuminate”) (equivalent to light + -en). Cognate with Dutch inlichten (“to enlighten, inform”), Old High German inliuhten (“to enlighten, illuminate”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inliuhtjan, “to enlighten, illuminate”). More at inlight, -en.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
endarken
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram: